Automatic tension hoist equipment



Nov. 23, 1943. J. c. PATTERSON, JR.

AUTOMATIC TENSON HOIST EQUIPMENT 7 snets-sneet 2 y Filed Feb. 2o,l 1942 Nov. 23, 1943. J. c. PATTERSON, JR '2,335,079

AUTOMATIC TENSION HoIsT EQUIPMENTA iled Feb. 20.41942 7 sheets-sheet s Nov. v23, 1943.

J. c..PAr1'ERsoN, JR

AUTOMATIC TENSION HOIST EQUIPMENT 'r sheds-sheet 4 Filed Feb.` 2o, 1942 Nov. 23, 1943. 1 c. PATTERSON, JR

' -AUTOMATIC TENSION HoIs'T EQUIPMENT Filed Feb. 20, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet ;5

. v I 3mm g/afgwi Me/1015i @www Nov. 23, 1943. .1 c. PATTERSON, JR 2,335,079

ATOMATIG TENSION HQIST EQUIPMENT Filed Feb. 2o, 1942 'r sheets-sheet e fa/@01? Tai-enrag Nov. 23, 1943.

J. C. PATTERSON, JR

AUTOMATIC TENSION' HOIST EQUIPMENT Filed Feb. 20, 1942 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Nov. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,335,079 AUTOMATIC TENSION HOIST EQUIPMENT Joseph C. Patterson, Jr., Alexandria, Va.

Application February 20, 1942, Serial No. 431,769

11 Claims.

This invention relates to hoisting equipment and is more particularly concerned with apparatus of the type disclosed and claimed in Patent 2,042,480 to Joseph C. Patterson.

Apparatus of the type constituting the subject matter of Patterson Patent 2,042,480, although of general utility, finds its chief employment in the hoisting of ship-borne aircraft from a seaway onto the deck of a vessel. Because of the relative fragility of aircraft, precautions of a most elaborate nature are necessary in order to prevent accidents in which the life of a pilot might be lost or much expensive equipment damaged. These precautions are of two general types, one concerned with the prevention of shock in normal operation and the other with the prevention of accidental misuse of the complex controls necessary for the safe application of hoisting force.

In the category of shock prevention considerable progress has been made by the employment of special hydraulic transmissions interposed between the cable hoisting drum and the prime mover. Such transmissions aord means for the smooth and even application of power to the hoist drum and hence to the cable actuated thereby and its fragile load. When hoisting from a seaway, however, the problem is complicated by wave action which brings about relative movement between the ship and load both before and immediately after raising of the load is commenced. Heretofore the dangers incident to relative movement have been partially eliminated by the use of load sensitive automatic stroke accelerating devices in conjunction with the B or motor end and A or pump end of the hydraulic transmission. These devices function to automatically increase motor end speed when the load being lifted is raised by a wave at a rate in excess of the drum controlled takeup speed of the cable. In this way slack, with the incident danger of shock upon its removal is, to a certain extent, eliminated during the actual hoisting. During the period after the cable is attached to the load and before hoisting is commenced when no driving connection between the motor end of the transmission and the cable drum exists, the hoisting cable may be very satisfactorily maintained free of slack by the employment of an automatic tensioning device such as that shown in Joseph C. Patterson Patent 2,042,480.

In the category of accidental misuse prevention there has been less activity, although it is now customary to provide the cable drum with an emergency brake which will serve to immobilize the same under emergency conditions.

Despite the foregoing precautions, there are phases of conventional airplane hoist operation which still inherently involve serious dangers, particularly when it is borne in mind that it may, at times, become necessary to use the hoist equipment under battle conditions or in adverse weather. Thus, although a drum emergency brake is ordinarily provided to immobilize the cable drum and hold a lo-ad in any position re- `quired by emergency conditions, it is evident that the accidental release of this brake, when the hoisting drum is not being otherwise held with a load on the line, may result in a serious and costly accident. Similarly, an accident can occur if the driving connection between the hoisting drum and its prime mover is accidentally severed during a hoisting or lowering operation.

Another difficulty which has been encountered arises in connection with the elimination of cable slack during the initial part of a hoisting operation where wave action causes the load to rise at a rate in excess of the takeup speed of the cable drum. While automatic hydraulic transmission accelerating devices assist in the elimination of such dangerous slack, it has been found that there is a slight time lag between the occurrence of the slack and the effective increase in motor end speed. As a result of the time lag, enough slack may be existent by the time the cable drum has reached the proper speed so that its elimination may be accompanied by a serious shock.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide more reliable automatic tension airplane hoist equipment free of the foregoing difficulties and characterized in operation by an exceedingly smooth hoisting cycle, regardless of any existing relative movement between the load and the cable drum either before or during the lifting operation.

According to this invention, it is contemplated that the cable drum emergency brake may not be released except when a driving connection exists between the prime mover and the cable drum and the driving connection may not be severed so long as there is a load on the hoist line which will be evidenced by a relatively high pressure in the line running between the pump and motor ends of the hydraulic transmission.

It is a further object of this invention to prositions of the improvementsaforded by thisinvention; Y

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the control station for the operation of the clutch and hoist drum brake including various details of theclutch operating mechanism;

Figure 3 is a view in section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a View in elevation of the parts shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a top plan view to an enlarged scale `of the clutch operating mechanism shown in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a 'plan View of the clutch operating cam assembly;

Figure 7 is a View partially in section and parf tially in elevation taken along the line TI-'of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a plan View of the interlocks'carried on the shaft of the clutch operating cam;

Fig. 9 is a View in elevation of the elements of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a View in section of a hydraulic piston and Valve arrangement which constitutes the clutch cam shaft locking means shown in part in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 6 of a modified type of clutch operating cam assembly; Figure 12 is a View in section taken along the line I2-I2 of Figure 11;

Figure y13 is a. view partially in elevation and 'partially in section of the brake operating cam illustrating the connection between the camY follower and the operating link of the brakej and Figure 14 is a top plan view of the brake operating 'cam and its follower mechanism.

Referring first particularly to Figure 1, the

-numeral I5 designates a winding drum of conventional form adapted, when driven, to pay out and hoist a cable over a boom, not shown, so that lifting and lowering operations may be performed.

' shaft of motor I I carries a gear Ill which meshes with and drives gear I5 carried on the shaft of the pump end of transmission I2, while in the latter a gear IS'on the shaft of the motor end of transmission I2 meshes with and drives a gear I'I mounted on a shaft I8 leading to the driving side of clutch I3. The driven side of clutch I3 is l carried'on a shaft I9 which likewise supports driving gear 2i! which meshes with driven gear 2I on Adrum shaft 22. Y

It will be recognized that `the velements lust def scribed are conventional, it being contemplated that transmission I2 be of the general type shown in Patent 924,787 to Reynold Janney, provided with accelerating devices of the general type shown in Patent Re. 20,551 to W. E. Rouse. The clutch I3 may be of the general type shown in Patent 1,392,932 to Harrie Gifn. It is further contemplated that the drum il? be provided with an internal brake 22a of any conventional conlstructionI for example 5 of lthe' type yshown in Patent 1,453,126 .to W. G. Bryan.

As shown in Patent 2,042,480 to present applicant, a torque motor 23 is connected to shaft I9 and serves when energized to drive the same only "in a' hoistingdirection to take up slack cable resulting from relative movement between ship and sea after a cable hook has been attached,

the power being insufficient to raise a load. This operation is known as automatic tensioning and is fully explained in Patent 2,042,480.

Y Itisproposed as an important part of tls invention-teso control the operation of the ele- -mentsdescribed-above as to substantially increase shaft I9.

the safety factor while concomitantly improving the smoothness of operation particularly in operating clutch I3 and in hoisting from a rough Seaway -To -this end-an interlock, to be herein- -after more fully described, is provided between the operati-ng means for the emergency brake 22a on druml il) and that for clutch i3 so that brake 22a may beset at any time but may be released only when clutch i3 is engaged to drive Also associated with the operating means for clutch l5 is-a pressure operated-interlockA 2d, Shown schematically in Figure 1, which prevents release of' the clutch when hydraulic pressure in excess of a predetermined Value exists lbetween the pump and motor ends of transmission I2. For this purpose, interlock '2t is connected to a conduitf in communication with fluid line 25 running from the pump to the `motor end of Vtransmission I2. It is evident that i the lockingA of clutch -I in engaged position will occur when a loadis on the cable operated from Adrurn Ill while in paying out or hoisting an empty hookl the pressure in line 2@ will be so low that interlock 25 will not be actuated. The pressure operated'interiock 2li operates on a pressure value approximating 300 pounds per square inch so From Vthe foregoing it can be Yseen that when the brake 22a acting upon drum l5 is not in hold- Ving position any load ori-the hoist line will be protected by ithe engaged clutch I3 which may not be released unless the pressure in line 2S is relieved.

On shipboard it is, of course, customary to-place all controlsv on deck'at a convenient location where they may be operated by the appropriate officer. Hence a housing 2l, shown in Figure 2, is usually provided and equipped with hoisting apparatus controls constructed according to this invention so that switch operating'buttons and various handwheels may be conveniently located. :Although it is contemplated that housing 21 accommodate handwheelsY for the operationV of transmission l2 as well as a switch button for operating motor il, only two handwheels 28 and ,29 arefillustrated. Of these, handwheel 28 is for the control of clutch I3 while handwheel 29 Yis for the operation of4 drum brake 22a.

-A -shaft`3l is connected to handwheel 28. This Vvshaftis-supported in suitable bearings, not shown,

the latter of which is connected through universal joint 40 to hub 4I. It will be realized that shaft 39 may be continuous or made up of a number of sections connected together by universal joints depending upon the relative positions of housing 21 and clutch I3 in the par-,15

ticular installation.

One end of hub 4I is keyed to universal joint 49 and the other end is provided with a socket for the reception of a shaft 42, also connected by a key, see Figures 2, 5, 6 and 7. It is to hub 4I that 20 a cam 43 is aiiixed for the purpose of actuating a follower 44, and through it a link 45, one end of which is connected to studs 46 extending ra-I dially of the clutch operating ring. Thus, through rotation of shaft 4I and hub 42 from handwheel 25 28, it is possible to slide the clutch operating ring, see Patent 1,392,022, to cause engagement and disengagement of clutch I3.

Cam follower 44 is provided with integral Shanks 41 and 48 which are mounted for rota- 30 tion in bearings 49 and 59 respectively located in registering cylindrical portions 5I and 52 of a housing 53. Housing 53 consists of two similar generally rectangular castings which when bolted together define therebetween a rgenerally oval space sufficient to accommodate cam 43. Registering cylindrical portions 5I and 52 of housing 53 serve to accommodate shanks 41 and 48 of cam follower 44 and the required bearings.

It is now evident that upon rotation of hub 42 cam follower 44 will be moved with respect to the axis of said hub and that because of Shanks 41 and 43 the displacement will be imparted to housing 53. Thus, housing 53 is provided with two registering elongated slots 54 and 55, of a length equal to the greatest radius of cam 43, for the accommodation of hub 42 regardless of the relative position of the hub and housing.

The operation of link from cam 43 is effected by connecting a rod 56 to a socket 51 of housing 53 and to one arm of said link. To this end pins 58 are passed through socket 51 and serve to anchor therein one end of rod 56. Intermediate its ends, rod 56 is provided with a hub 59 through which a pin 69 is passed. Upon reference to Figure 7 it can be seen that link 45 is a double armed one and that pin 60 extends from hub 59 to both the upper and lower arms 6I and 62 thereof. Arms 6I and 62 are bifurcated and receive therein sliding blocks 63 and. 64 apertured to accommodate the ends of pin 60 for rotation therein. Bolts 65 connect the ends of arms 6I and 62 as can be seen in Figure 5.

Since pin 60 is free to rotate in blocks 63 and 64 it need not rotate in hub 59. Hence it is provided with an integral flange 66 and a threaded Zone 61. By this arrangement pin 69 can be held against vertical displacement by simply drawing a nut 68 against the upper edge of hub 70 position of Figure 5 the clutch is fully engaged.

l:Bycounter-clockwise movement of hub 4I `gradual disengagement of the clutch can be brought about through the action of cam 43. This action is against the thrust of coil spring 19 compressed between a washer 1I carried on the free end of shaft 56 and a stationary ear 12 of a standard 13. Spring 'I0 serves to maintain cam and follower contact and serves to engage the clutch as well as to permit even and smooth disengagement thereof. Standard 13 supports a shaft 14 in a cam 15. Shaft 14 constitutes the point of pivot of link 45, cam 15 determining the position of the axis. It can be se'en that by turning cam 15 to different positions compensation for wear of the clutch faces is possible.

The shape of cam 43 forms an important part of this invention in that its rise per degree of angular displacement is correlated with the increase in thrust of spring 1I) upon compression thereof. Thus, since the thrust of spring 19 increases in direct proportion to decrease in its axial length, the rate of rise of cam 43 is progressively reduced from the point of minimum to the point of maximum radius. This progression is related to the thrust of spring 19 as a variable to a function so that mechanical advantage aiforded by cam 43 increases as the thrust of spring 10 increases. The effect of the shape of cam 43 is discernible at handwheel 28 by a constant resistance throughout the entire compressio-n of the spring. Furthermore, the use of a cam allows for a smooth even disengagement of the clutch and a rapid engagement, the latter, of course, resulting from action of spring 19. Clutch I3, of course, is successively engaged and disengaged by unidirectional rotation of cam 43. It is contemplated that some means such as a ratchet and pawl assembly 31a be associated with vuniversal 31 for shaft 34 or with one of the other driving connections for hub 4I to limit said hu to unidirectional movement.

An arrangement similar to the one just described is likewise employed in conjunction with the operation of emergency drum brake 22a. The brake operating arm is moved in an axial sense in response to the rotation of a cam 42a similar to cam 42 but of straight line development. Cam 42a is mounted in a housing 53a including a cam follower 44a similar in construction and function to the arrangement of Figure 7 in connection with the clutch operating cam-follower assembly. Housing 53a, which is bodily movable, is connected to a brake link operating shaft 56a which is connected to brake arm 45a. The manner in which the brake arm may effect the setting and release of the brake is illustrated in Bryan Patent 1,453,126. In the position shown in Figure 13 the brake is in set position. It is quite important that the means used for setting and releasing brake 22a be of a type which may be driven unidirectionally to effect a complete setting and release of the Abrake in 360 of angular displacement.

The brake cam 42a is driven from a shaft 16 connected by a universal 11 to a shaft 18 which passes through a bearing 19 in the bottom of control station housing 21. As is the case of shaft 39, shaft 16 may be either continuous or made up of a number of sections, depending upon the structural characteristics of the installation and the distance of contr-ol housing 21 from brake 22a. In the housing 21 a short shaft 8|] connects shaft 18 through a universal 18a to a universal 8l4 extending vertically downwardly from a gear .same shapeas cam t3, when the brake f ,bonz ,similar in. structure andoperation v taeea tboxsgl. `A' holigontal shaft extends from;l gear box :32 Y and brake operating hand wheel-5.219; is imounted thereon. `VAeratchet .and pawl assernblv 58o, is associated,withuniversal lila and..,serl/s tollmit brake Operating wheelf@ and the brake operating cam to Yunidirectional movement.

, VThe Ymanner `of operating clutchl i3 andgbrake 22d has nowbeen described. t vit is` evidentthat ubothgareoperated through cams and tirata comy.pletecycle of operation of. each can beeiected by 360 of angular displacement of the respective 1 cam. Thus, regardless of .whether the brake beingsetor released orwhether the clutch is being engaged orV disengaged, rotationiswalways in theA same direction and is,` as illustrated-coungterclopkwise.

Referring ,now to Figures 3 and fl, there is shown amechanical interlock betweenl shaitsvl and Bserving to prevent the releaseof bralgewgza,

., exceptV `when. clutch Yl 3 `is in fully` engagedlposi- 'tion to establish adriying connection` between shafts 1S and l. VQn brakeshaft there isprovided a radially extending dog 83 whichY extends .into the path of an axially slidable pin 8d `mount-k .ed lin .bearingsY Stand itt supported conveniently from any portionofhousing 2l, asforex a 1 nple, by bracket. 8l' `supporting the bearings through J.bolts and ,89. At its end nearest shaft Ell, pin

- ,84 is provided with, a dia'metricalkey El@k to which `v.acoilspring SiA is fastened. Coil spring Mex# .tends betweenkey Qdand theedge Aof bearing 85. Since vbearingl isstationary the thrust of ...spring 9i hasa tendency to move pin 8d to the ...left. as it is viewed in Figure 3A soY that Wljrenhdgg ..183 `is inthe positionshown in that ligure p in `Bil is urged byspring Q ihthereagainst. Y It is the posi- @tion of Figure Sthat dogY 83 occupies whenebralge ...22a is in set or engagedY position. Thus,o ltoere- `A lease thel brake byturning shaft ,8d in ,a counter-, y

clockwise direction, it is evident thatpinft must This movement, however, `may Mbe :Disc @Zisprovided withalJ wedge-shaped notch at This notch is locatedso as tooccupyythe Vposition shown in Figure 3, whenthe l,clutchjcarn .A3 is inthegposition shown in Figure 6. ,-Thus, f when clutch i3 isdisengaged, brake'22a may not be released since dogV 33 cannot movetpin= Sli` because of the fact that the end of said pin isnot -yengaged with the edge of disc 92. However, when `4clutch kcam is turned roin thepositionshown in Figure, 6 Yto substantially thenormalI position @of Figure 5, thereby causing the clutch tobecorne ,.engaged, thenotch atgQ is turned slightly about 90". and is theny inA the positionv shown inthe broken lines of Figure S. InY that position brake `22a may be released, sincedog `32% maytheny compress springr 5l Vand force pinta into the nOGGh 93.

The notch at 93, of course, is of sufficient depth to allow dog 83 to clear the end of pin .86. 'While from the foregoing it is evident ythat v brake 22a may not be released exceptwhen .clutch i3 is engaged, the brake may oe set at any time, regardless of the position of the clutch. For example, if the brake cam is substantiallyoi the Yin released position, dog 33 will occupy the broken line position inV Figure 3. Thereafter, 4if it Yis moved-further in a counterclockwise direction, "the brake is set to the completely engagedposi- Thus, the interlock described is. a

very :importa-nt safety,y feature V`since-by its ,use

maccidental release of the brake V22d '.wlfien` Nthe .clutclr 13 is not engagedis; impossible/,whiledesred Jsettingofthe brake under emergency condi- 5 tions can be effected atanytime.

It hasbeenpreviously stated thai-as a further L,safetyLfeature, in connection withntheroperation of phoist.- equipment constructed ,in accordance with this inventionan arrangement is lprovided to lpre- 1o vent the disengagement .0f .Clutch I3 :S0 1911@ as afpositive-,pressure of a predetermined value exa-ists in'lirlef connecting the A` and, B ends of hydraulictransmission Yl 2. This arrangement, Ashown. schematically in Figure l, is illustrated ,ill greater detail in-,Figures2,.8, 9 ar1d l0. It will be recalled that hub 4 I to whichclntche'perating cam visattaclled is'mrnoimigedV onv'a shaft 52 f, whichisgturned throughintermediate connections by handwheel Sito veilect setting and release of 20..the clutch. 4`.Below hub- 4! shaft lpaSSSil1f0l1Sh abearing Q -t. Shaft i2--projects `below bearing 94 and carriesthereon twordiscs S5 and. These Y.discs areelgeyed to shaft 52 for `turning movement therewith. ,Disc S5 is substantially circular and 25Hispiovided ywith a single radial notch at This notch is V intended for cooperation with the end; of`a shaft 93 which ,maybe hydraulically projected from interlock 24. rThe,arrangement is Y* such that-the notch at 9i will be Yin registry with `Vshaft 98 when the clutch Yoperating cam is in the ,position of Figure 5, i. e., when the clutchis Vfully engaged. Obviously, to release clutch E3 it is necessary to turn cam e3, hub` il and shaft l2 Ain counterclockwise direction.Y This movement is prevented if shaft S38` is projectingY into notch 9i as illustratedin Figures and 9.

Inasrnuch as itis desirable to lock Clutch i3 against release only when hydraulic pressure in line25 is invfexcess of a predetermined value shaft 40.93 isnorrnally urgedto retracted position by a t spring 9S `y(s'ee Figure 10) .and may be projected A by. ay piston .i'which is rendered responsive to the pressure inlconduit 25. To this end interlock .liconsistsof two housings, lill and H32, held vfitogether by bolts HB3. Housing Elli defines an interior cylindrical Workingspace adapted to receive piston vlili.) for sliding movementtherein. Piston. l is hollowed for thereception of spring 99 and has an axial opening interiorly threaded for the reception. of the exteriorly threaded end of. pin 88s() that piston mit and pin 98 will move axially as` a unit in the cylinder dened by housing lill. Springll, located in the hollow interior of, piston itil, serves to urge the same to the right as viewed in Figure 10. VThis thrust V.is counteracted to a certain extent by a smaller and, weaker spring. l extending from a hollow piston` ltmounted in a cylinderdefined by housingjl. ',The cylinder dened by housing 52 60 is indirect communication with uid conduitY 25.

"The cylinder 'defined `by housing llv is also in Ycommunieation withiuid conduit Y25;-through a smallaperturelil in piston IE5. `As can be seen in Figure 10, housing M32 is-,provided with a drain-off connection limiv extending radially inwardly and communicating with l the working 'space for pistonv i535. A similar connection -Ila is' provided in housing l 0i, this-connection oommunicating withtheV working space for piston v-Eli). It can be seenthatpiston -l functions. as a shuttlevalve to close and open connection Hl2a at the proper-time. Figure l0 illustratesthe position taken-*when pressure exists in line 25 at` a vvalue equal-to or. above,300` Vpounds .per .square ,75,.inch- SzUnder theseconditionspiston Iis forced Cil overto the left of Figure 10 so as to close drainol connection I02a. Thus, the chamber defined by housing IOI and piston is iilled from pipe 25 through aperture |00. When, however, the pressure in line 25 falls below 300 pounds per square inch, spring S9 forces piston |00 to the right, as viewed in Figure 10, which in turn forces piston to the right opening drain-off |02 to allow the entrapped oil behind piston |00 to escape. The purpose of drain-off I02a is, therefore, to avoid a time lag in the release of piston |00. The liquid escaping through aperture I02a may be returned to the hydraulic system in any convenient manner. Drain-off IOIa serves to allow escape of any liquid which may leak past piston |00 preventing the occurrence of trapped oil in the chamber occupied by spring 93 which would prevent or delay the ejection of pin 08 to locking position. It can now be seen that if no pressure of suiiicient value exists in conduit 25 spring 9S will overcome the thrust of spring |04 and cause pin 98 to be retracted to such an extent that disc 03 is free to turn.

Regardless of the hydraulic pressure existing in line 25, it is always possible to move clutch I3 to engaged position since the frictional bearing of pin 98 against the edge of disc 95 will not be sufficient to interfere to any appreciable extent with the rotation of the latter.

From the foregoing explanation of interlock 24, it is now evident that when the pump end of transmission I2 is stroked in a hoisting direction the pressure in line 26 will be relatively high depending upon the resistance offered by the load on the cable attached to winding drum I0. Naturally, the adjustment of the springs in interlock 24 will be correlated with the type of load to be lifted, the 300 pounds per square inch pressure mentioned hereinbefore being contemplated for the hoisting of aircraft. In paying out an empty hook the pressure in line 26 will be Very low, but, in that event, if clutch I3 were inadvertently disengaged, no damage would result. In paying out a load, the pressure value in line 26 will be maintained relatively high because of the tendency of the motor end to drive the pump end. Here again the pressure reached will be dependent upon the setting of the transmission and the weight of the load. From the foregoing it is equally evident that when a load is stationary but suspended from the cable, a pressure of sufficient value will exist in line 25 so that interlock 24 will be actuated to prevent the release of clutch I3.

-It has been previously explained that this invention, in addition to contributing to safety in the operation of hoist equipment, involves an arrangement to assist in the smooth and easy hoisting of aircraft off of a rough Seaway. This feature of the invention resides in the manner of operation of automatic tensioning torque motor 23, the structure and function of, which is described in applicants Patent 2,042,480. Torque motor 23 is a three-phase A. C. motor connected to a source |01 by connectors |08, |09 and IIO, see Figure 1. A main switch I I controls the flow of power from source ILi'I to motor 23. This switch is operated by a solenoid II2 in a control circuit connected to electrical conductors |08 and |09. One branch of the control circuit leads directly from electrical conductor |03 to solenoid |I2. The other branch passes from conductor |08 to relay coil II3, from thence to a switch II4 and then back to a connection at I|5 which leads to conductor |09. A branch line II6 is interposed between the point of connection of the control circuit to conductor |08 and the point of connection of relay coi1 II3. Line IIS passes through relay contacts II'| and from thence through a switch I I 8 back to solenoid I I 2. Switch II8 is the main controlling element for torque motor 23 and may be conveniently located as,` for example, on housing 2'I. In the on position, automatic tensioning can occur, while in the off position the control circuit cannot'be operated to cause operation of switch I I I.

In the employment of the described circuit, see Figures 8 and 9, switch II4 is opened and closed by an arm IIS carrying a follower |20 urged by means not shown into engagement with disc 96. Disc 96, it will be recalled, is keyed to shaft 42 which turns with clutch operating cam 43. This disc is provided with a cut-out portion shown in broken lines in Figure 8 so that in one portion of its cycle of movement arm I|9 will be in one position `while in the remainder of the cycle `it will be in another. The position of arm I|9 in Figures 8 and 9 is the position taken when switch I| 4 is open. In other words, when clutch I3 is engaged in driving position, in either direction, torque motor 23 is de-energized regardless of the position of master switch ||`8. However, if master switch II8` is at the on position and the motor end of hydraulic transmission I2 is being run inthe paying out direction, motor 23 will not operate so long as clutch I3 is engaged. However, after the hook has been lowered and after the aircraft is attached for hoisting, clutch I3 will be disengaged. This will result in counterclockwise movement of disc 96 away from the position shown in Figure'S which will cause immediate movement of follower |20 to effect the closing of switch II4, thus energizing relay coil |I3 to close switch v| I1 thereby energizing the control circuit which will, through solenoid II2, close switch III and start torque motor 23. Torque motor 23 then turns shaft I9 in the hoisting direction to take up any cable slack which may exist after the hook is attached to the load but prior to commencement of hoisting. From a consideration of cam 43 in'Figure 5 it will be seen that approximately 270 of movement in a counterclockwise direction is required in order to reach the position of Figure (i. In other words, the full` disengagement of clutch I3 requires about 270 of movement of shaft 42. Since disc 96 is keyed to and turns with shaft 42, it will be subject to the same angular displacement. Switch I i 4, however, is closed instantly at the initiation of the clutch releaseandlong before the clutch is fully disengaged. Thepurpose of this is to permit control of the acceleration of the hoisting line by manually regulating the drag of clutch I3 for it would be quite undesirable to allow the hoisting line to be taken up instantly upon closing the circuit to motor 23. Thus, it is that any slack in the cable existing at the time motor 23 is automatically turned on through operation of switch I|4 is gradually eliminated as clutch I3 is gradually biased to its fully opened position. While, as explained in Patterson Patent 2,042,480, the power of motor 23 is suicient to eliminate slack in a hoisting cable, it is not suicient to overcome the weight of an airplane or other heavy load so that relative movement of a ship or plane away from one another will result in reversal of motor 23. On the other hand, when hoisting is commenced and the movement of clutch 43 is toward engaged position;r only;` about 91).?4 of-fmovement is required.' It.y is '.fore thisrreasomthatttliemuteout' portion of "dis'c t 9 6i' approxim ates f an amplitude'. ofI 90@ so;that armfl lwvillibescaused to move 'radi4 ally-inwardly to Amove. switch I Mito-.open posi-tion immediately upon engagement ofitliexclutchp In this case, theI control circuitzisheld.' closed,: howe ever;- by. switchzI i 'I whiclri is 'of theidelayed openiingitypesuch as that show-minipublicationfnumf. ber :63106; Cutler-Hammer; aftapage l.;v Thus, dur;-` ing: the initialhoisting-stages motor-23:is operating in a hoist direction and:.adds,witsforcertothat of motor I I operating :through theernotorend f of transmission |25' Asa consequence; if fwavefaction. should-'cause relative movementof4 thev ship and? plane: toward one i another 'at a.' ratet fasten than*v thefdrum'V speed; the cableaslacki would be taken up immediately by torque-'motor A2 3`actingf inr con'-Y junction with the automatic accelerating. devices; on tl'ie4- hydraulic transmission I2. Bye having torquemotor 23.energizedprior tothe commence.-

mentor hoisting; there'is a tendency toreiiminate ar timelag that' occursr4 when'` using: hydraulicl transmission acceleratin'gdevices'since the torque of motor 2 31 is -fimmedi-ately. available fonhoisting; and" therefore assists. thel acceleration of; theV transmission.. Aftertheihoisting ihafs 4progressedV for" a distance 1 suicientrl. to z insurev clearance ofi thewater;` motor 213i is disengaged-:by thefautomatic opening vof'l switch' :I I 'li Obviously; .thetime dela'yi` factorr'fori switch IlIE may be: varied 'asV desi-red'for varionsffoperating'conditions...

Referring'nowftofliigures1 11T` and 12, .thereitis shown a fmodifiedtype forca-nr: assembly used for theractuation of clutch; I3: This .assembly` includes' ail" of the parts' 'shown in: Figures f 61and= 7 f and"y additionally' a normallyf inoperative con'- structioncforr'eie'cting the engagement fof-.clutchA I should@ spring: 'Mi vbo-broken under emergency conditions: Itwill be1 recalledJ thatth'eWoIutChv is -successivelyr'ene1aged and disengaged "by 'rota'-` tiony offcam 43': Gam ifollower i4 is-eheld against-v cam-.- t3 ibyf a springr'lii-f..1 Thus; ,in @approximately-f 905% of counterclockwise movement away from thee positionf offV Eigurev- 64,/l cam 43 assumesf'the. positioneshown :Figure 5: Follower.- i4-.and the enV tirer-housing 53 rhave .thus` xbeenmovedto thev left asshown in Figure .-5 teeiect engagementofthe, clutch.. During this.opera-tion,A cam..43 does 'not` act l:clirectlyunon. follower -44 Vbut rather follower' 44E-fis releasedk landcausedA toffollow. thev contour. of .the camfib-y action of spring.. lll- From this. it.

. is :evident` that were spring..` 'mi to. break While..

theliitch ,were disengaged. itwould beimpos- A sible to .enaaseithefsaine since-no.. force would' exist. to biasthe ,housing ,53; shaft` 56;and blocks 53.. and'. fili in i a clockwise direction.. about pivot point, 'ML Of.' course. the. problem of "releasing" theclutcli would .not present diiculties'since the' action of cam !i3on follower i4 'is positiveduring therelease cycle.

In ytheconstruction 'of `Figures 1 1 and "'12 azcamA 921 is keyed at I22"to' hub"'4l.' (fam`l2lihastvvo` radially extending'armsi23ancl` I'Ml disposed somev 90 apart: Thesearms are'connectedbya" downwardly depending-flangeI25 intended to act* upon a vcam' follower*l I2l5 disposedionthe upperj extremity'ofifoll'ower shank e1 which is-somewhat elongated for-thispurpose. Upon refer-r ence k-to Figure-'12;'it will 4be noted that principal carry-follower lili and cam follower IE6-are Ythus' arranged coaxially vand -in'ali'gnmen-t. TheY risel of'f flange i251 is so arrangedftl'iat'followerV |26"A will 'bef-its; maximum distance fomfhub' 4 I when l clutchr cam 13S-'lisin-releaseipositionand-"itsminis egsemoze;

mumzdistance: from: said; hub' :when came 3 is: in

clutchzengagedposition.

Itwillbe understood'that cam". E2! isvnorm'ally4 inoperative. So long as spring'lil isiiiroperating condition, theclutch will be engagedY and disengaged as described. in conjunction with Figures Gand?. Ii the spring breaks, however, cam IRIY will hai/'ea positive action with-respect tov follower I Z- and will draw said" follower towardl the axis of khub il thereby` displacing shaftES-z to the left to effect engagementl of clutch |35 S'i'nce the clutch is normally engaged by the spring,- brealzage of the'latterwilltbe evidenced at the control zheel'by considerable/increase in resistance.

-IavingY now described theV invention in its preerred form, it is understoodlthat variations and modifications may be made therein without def parting from the spirit of the invention, and` it'.

ggf is desired that the scope'thereof be'limitedonly by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

l. Hcisting apparatus comprising, a cablev` drum; a brake therefon brake operating` means, hydraulic means for drivingfsaid drum, a clutch interposed between saiddrivingfmeans and said. drum, means vfor operating: said clutch` to andV from engaged position,v means vresponsive to the. position of said clutch operating meansiforfpreventing operation oisaid brake-operating means torelease-said brakeexcept Whensaid clutch isv in engagedposition, and means fresponsiveto ai predetermined pressure in. sa-id'zhydrau-l-ic means for locking said clutch` in engaged posi-tion; whereby load. safety isvinsuredfsincethe. drum brake cannot-be released except .when the .clutch is -indriving position and thel clutch. cannot-bereleased.. so .long as. the pressure jin saidr driving ,Y

means is above a predetermined value:

2..Hoisting apparatus comprising,v af cable.. drum... a drum brake, brake. operating, means, means. including. a. hydraulic transmissionJfordriving. said drum, said. transmission includinga drivingY end vand -a driven end, Va normallyengaged. clutch interposedy betweensaid driven.' end and said drum, means for disengagingV said clutch, meansiresponsive to the position of said,

clutch disengaging meansV forpreventin'g operation .of'rsaid' brake operating, means to' release position except" when said clutch is in normall position, and means responsiveto hydraulicpres# sureof'a predeterminedvalue between'V the driving and driven ends of said'transmission 'for'locking said clutch in normalposition, whereby load safety is insured since the drum brake cannot be releasedI except when theclutchisin driving position and the clutch` cannot befreleased'so" long ras a predetermined pressure *exists between the'driving `and driven ends of V'said transmission. 3.Y Hoisting' apparatus comprising, al cabley drum; a normally released brake therefor,` means' forfdrivin'g'said drum, a normally engaged clutch' interposed between said' driving lmeans, Vand saidA drum', separate means both` restricted to cyclic 65 unidirectional rotative movementV for disengag=- ing said clutch and'for setting said brake; means` for locking vthe brake" setting.' means in 'one an:

guiar position, and'means 'responsive to on'an-iA mayrbe :released only when theclutchis inlene;

gaged position while the brake may be set at any time.

4. Hoisting apparatus comprising, a cable drum, a brake therefor, means for driving said drum, a clutch interposed between said driving means and said drum, a cam for operating said clutch, a cam for operating said brake, each of said cams effecting a complete cycle of movement of the parts operated thereby each 360 of angular displacement, shafts for operating said cams, means for restricting said shafts to movement in one direction only, a notched disc on said clutch operating cam shaft, a projection extending radially from said brake operatingcam shaft, and a pin engaging the edge of said disc and normally held thereby in the path of said projection, to prevent rotation of said brake cam shaft but adapted to be urged into the notch of said disc by said projection in'one position only of said clutch cam shaft, whereby to effect an interlock between the brake and clutch in which the brake cam shaft may not be turned to release position except when the notch is in registry with the pin but wherein it may move to set position regardless of the angular position of said notch,

5. Automatic tensioning hoist apparatus comprising, a cable drum, a clutch having a driving side and a driven side, the latter being operatively connected to said drum, means for actuating the driving side of said clutch, a torque motor on the driven side of said clutch adapted to operate said drum in a hoisting direction when resistance to operation is below a predetermined magnitude, means for operating said clutch to and from engaged position, and means responsive to movement of said clutch operating means to clutch disengaging position for energizing said torque motor, whereby when the clutch is disengaged after paying out a cable tension will be automatically maintained by the energization of said torque motor.

6. Automatic tensioning hoist apparatus comprising, a cable drum, a clutch having a driving side and a driven side, the latter operatively connected to said drum, means for actuating the driving side of said clutch, a torque motor operating on the driven side of said clutch and adapted to operate said drum in a hoisting direction when resistance to operation is below a predetermined magnitude, unidirectional rotatable cam means for quickly engaging and slowly disengaging said clutch, and means responsive to initial movement of a rotating portion of said cam means in its clutch releasing cycle for energizing said torque motor, whereby the torque on said drum may be gradually applied by manipulation of said clutch to gradually reduce the loading on the torque motor.

'7. Automatic tensioning hoist apparatus comprising, a cable drum, a clutch having a driving side and a driven side, means for actuating the driving side of said clutch, automatic means responsive to a reduction in load on said driving means for increasing the speed thereof, a torque motor on the driven side of said clutch adapted to operate said drum in a hoisting direction when resistance to operation is below a predetermined magnitude, means for operating said clutch to and from engaged position, a circuit controlling the operation of said torque motor, a switch in said circuit operated by said clutch operating means and responsive to the position thereof to hold said circuit open except when said clutch operating means is moved to disengaging position, and a delay opening switch in said circuit adapted to be closed'uponithe closing of said circuit and to open a predetermined period after the opening of said first switch, whereby when said clutch is disengaged said torque motor is energized while the engagement of said clutch will not immediately result in the de-energization of said motor so that the hoisting torque of the latter may assist said means for actuating the driving side of said clutch in acceleration to take up cable slack if the load and drum are relatively moved toward one another at a rate in excess of the normal takeup speed of the drum.

8. Automatic tensioning hoist apparatus comprising, a cable drum, a clutch including a driving side and a driven side operatively connected to said drum, means including a hydraulic transmission having A and B ends for actuating the driving side of said clutch, means responsive to a reduction in load for increasing the effective speed of said B end, a torque motor on the driven side of said clutch adapted to operate said drum in a hoisting direction when resistance to operation is below a predetermined magnitude, means for operating said clutch to and from engaged position, and means set in operation by said clutch operating means for energizing said torque motor upon disengagement of said clutch and for de-energizing said torque motor a predetermined period after engagement thereof, whereby to aiford a time lag intermediate the clutch engagement and the de-energization of the torque motor so that the hoisting torque of the latter will continue for a short period after hoisting commences to assist in the assumption of a high B end speed on the part of the transmission to compensate for possible overhauling of a water-borne load by a wave which would otherwise cause slack in the line.

9. Hoisting apparatus comprising, a cable drum, a brake therefor, brake operating means, means including a hydraulic transmission for driving said drum, said transmission including a driving end and a driven end, a normally engaged clutch interposed between the driven end of said transmission and said drum, a cam for operating said clutch to and from engaged position, a torque motor operatively connected to said drum and adapted to drive the same in a hoisting direction when resistance to operation is below a predetermined magnitude, a shaft for operating said clutch cam, interengaging elements for locking said clutch in engaged position, one of said interengaging elements being movable to a position to be engaged by the other in response to angular displacement of the clutch cam operating shaft to its clutch engaging position, normally interengaging elements for locking said brake operating means against movement to release position, one of said normally interengaging elements being movable out of engaging position in response to angular displacement of the clutch cam operating shaft to its clutch engaging position to permit release of said brake, and means responsive to angular displacement of said clutch cam operating shaft away from clutch engaging position for effecting the energization of said torque motor.

l0. In hoisting apparatus including a cable drum, means including a hydraulic transmission for driving the same, and a torque motor adapted to operate said drum in a hoisting direction when resistance to operation is below a predetermined magnitude, a friction clutch interposed between said transmission and said drum, a spring normally biasing said clutch to engaged psitin, a positize linkage including a cam filower 'for disieng'a-ging said clutch against the thrust of said spring, a cyclic cam in operative relationwith' said'follower, said cani having a zione of rise and a zone of fall to successively positively disengage'a'nd permit the spring to engage said clutch, thev angular magnitude of the zone of rise being substantially greater than that of the Zone of fall, the rise of said cam per degree of angular displacement thereof decreasing at a rate correlatedwith the increase of thrust of said spring upon compression thereof, so that a constant ratio of power to resistance is maintained throughout the entire clutch releasing cycle pernitting the use of a spring of sucient thrust to hold the clutch engaged, and means responsive to initiation cfclutch disengagement by said cam for energizing said torque motor.

11; In hoisting Aapparatus including a cable drum, means including a hydraulic transmission for driving the same, and a torque motor adapted to operate said drum `in a hoisting direction when resistance to operation is below a predetermined magnitude, a friction clutch interposed between said transmission and saidV drum, a spring normally biasing said clutch to engaged position, a positive linkage including a cam follower for disengaging said clutch against the thrust of said spring, a cyclic cam in operativeA relation with said follower, said cam having a zone of rise and a zone of fall to successively positively dlsengage and permit the spring to engage said clutch, the angular magnitude of the zone of rise being substantially greater than that of the Zone of fall, the rise of said cam per degree of angular displacement thereof decreasing at a rate correlated with the increase of thrust of said spring upon compression thereof, positive means for operating said cam follower in a clutch engaging direction independent of said spring, said posi tive means moving with said cam and acting in its zone of fall to bias the cam in the direction toward which it is drawn by said-spring, so that upon breakage of said spring manual engagement of the clutch is possible, and means responsive to initiation of clutch disengagement by said cam for energizing said torque motor.

JOSEPH C. PATTERSON, JR.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTI ON 4Patent No. 2,555,079. November 25, 1915.

JOSEPH C- PATTERSON, JR.

It is hereby certified that error' appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 6, sec- -ond column, line 68, claim 5, for 1Ion",1:'eaLd -one--; and that the said Letters Patent should beraad with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the-Patent Office.

signed and sealed this ptn day of Januar-y, A. D. 1914i.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

